Thursday, December 11, 2008

I've had nagging lower back pain for years and have had massages and done exercises to try and cure it. Both helped a bit, but I finally decided to put my employer's health plan to work for me and go see a chiropractor.

Visiting a chiropractor seems to be controversial in some corners, but I know many people who've been helped very much after being treated. There are horror stories in every profession, I'm sure, but I went in with an open mind. It helps, of course, that I've known my chiropractor for 32 years since we went to junior high school together.

Now, when you're having your body twisted every which way, it's best to be relaxed. Since I trusted him, I didn't have a problem being relaxed, but some of the bizarre twisting and turning that he had me into on the table could have probably qualified me for the Olympic gymnastics team. I don't know how cute I'd look in tight body-length leotards, but I'm on the verge of getting fitted for some after the several treatments I've received so far.

I'm pretty sure that after this, I'll be able to do a balance beam routine that would make Nadia Comanici's 1976 "perfect Olympic 10" routine in Montreal look like a drunken stagger down a street greased with butter and strewn with rusty nails.

I figured out his trick to get me to relax early on in treatments. He would have me on the table twisted into a pretzel, start telling me a story to distract me, and then "Blammo!" --- try to tie me into a human bow tie in order to fix my aching back.

It's interesting being twisted and prodded into positions you didn't think were humanly possible. In a sick kind of way, I've always envied my cats for being able to lick themselves in areas that are just, well, not possible for we humans, and perhaps my chiropractor treatments will allow me to finally achieve my lifelong dream of bathing myself from head to toe with my own tongue, I don't know.

During the first few treatments, though, I really wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't know whether to shake his hand afterwards, go the pharmacy for a pregnancy test, or curl up in the fetal position in the corner with mascara-stained tears falling down my cheeks and pointing to a therapist's doll. "That's where the bad man touched me."

He adjusted my neck a few times --- you know, the cliché chiropractic move of "cracking" someone's neck to make them feel better. I'd always wondered how it felt, and found it quite nice, actually. Thankfully, he told me before he did it the first time that I'd hear loud sounds in my head along the lines of what you hear when you crack your knuckles. And boy, did I ever! According to him, I was pretty far out of alignment.

He asked me why I jumped after he did the neck adjustment. It may have been a reflex, but it was also to check if I could still feel my legs.

After a few treatments, we finally pinpointed the trouble and it was a great relief to know that I wasn't the only person around suffering from my exact condition. Luckily, it could be treated, but of course there are no miracle cures for these things, especially after I waited years and years to go for treatment.

The last thing, after all, that you want to hear from a medical practitioner is, "I've never seen that before." Or just as bad, "The only time I've seen this is on a National Geographic special. By the way, you may want to take a photo of your nose before it disintegrates into dust over the next few weeks." Or worse, their eyes just well up with tears and they hand you a business card to the closest funeral home and advise you not to bother buying any green bananas.

I don't know why I wait so long to go to get treatment for these things. Whether it's a back problem or anything else, I pretty much procrastinate to the point that I'm on the verge of either picking out the colour of my casket or I show up on the doctor's doorstep hooked up to life support. Some people run to the doctor the minute they get a twinge. I tend to wait until the twinge has turned into pain so severe that I can honestly tell you that I know how an elf would feel giving birth to an elephant.

Thankfully, I wasn't the only one of my chiropractor's patients who was being twisted into a pretzel, if the groans and grunts coming from the other treatment rooms were any indication. But when you're being readjusted, I guess that's just the name of the game, huh?

Little adjustments in our lives take place all the time. It's when you ignore things for years that more drastic measures are necessary. The same goes for your body, I guess.

I'm glad that I finally "tore off the bandage" and decided to go to the chiropractor. I can see a difference already. I didn't expect a miracle cure overnight, of course, because I'd let the problem go on for years before I sought treatment. So I'm happy with the way things are progressing.

I just hope my chiropractor friend isn't too shocked when I show up on his doorstep one day carrying a newborn baby in my arms. "Uhm, you remember that really difficult adjustment you gave me back in December? Well, perhaps you shouldn't have twisted me so hard."

People need to remember that we Cormiers are a fertile bunch and treat us accordingly. Just look at the number of pages we fill in the telephone book. Beware!

“This program is an excellent way for the business community and citizens in general to help their neighbours,” said Maura McKinnon, Director of Player Experience and Innovation at Atlantic Lottery (ALC), one of several firms backing the “Heating Up the Holidays” program unveiled at ALC’s regional head office in Moncton. “Each year ALC supports more than 50 Atlantic Canadian events, both financially and through volunteerism. Community is at the heart of everything we do.”

Donations to the Heating Up the Holidays program can be made at any RBC Royal Bank branch in Southeastern New Brunswick or at ALC from Dec. 10 to Jan. 16.

“The funds collected will be used to help area residents struggling to pay their oil bills,” says Glen Dormody, RBC’s Regional Vice President for Eastern N.B. and P.E.I. “The weather outside is cold enough; no one should have to be cold in their home as well.”

While the bank is collecting the donations, staff with YMCA of Greater Moncton’s Reconnect program will actually coordinate applications from those interested in receiving assistance through the program. (Interested citizens can phone Reconnect at 856-4362.)

The Heating Up the Holidays program announced today stems from a concept developed last year by Matt Eagles of Moncton, an employee with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' Global Reservation Centre in Moncton.

While on leave from Fairmont to work as a loaned representative with the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region, Eagles fielded a phone call from a woman who was ill and having trouble paying for her home heating oil. To help the lady and others like her, Eagles came up with the idea of challenging Metro Monctonians to take money they might spend on hostess gifts for Christmas parties and instead make a donation to an oil fund for those experiencing financial difficulties.

This year, the initiative has grown as a result of a partnership between YMCA of Greater Moncton, RBC Royal Bank, Co-Op Fuels and the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region Inc.

Zane Korytko, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Moncton, says that while there is no specific financial goal for Heating Up the Holidays, the hope is that everyone will be kept warm over the coming months and connected to the supports they need.

“This is a grassroots opportunity for the community to get involved in providing extra support to help vulnerable individuals and families,” said Korytko.

During today’s press conference, representatives of Atlantic Lottery and Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc. challenged downtown business owners and staff to support the program by making a donation on behalf of their employees, employers, or whomever they wish at ALC or an RBC branch.

“We’re hoping that the local business community really steps up to the plate and contributes generously,” said Daniel Allain, Executive Director of Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc. “I can’t think of a better time of year to think about others and truly make a difference.”

Debbie McInnis, Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region, applauded all of those involved in the Heating Up the Holidays initiative for their support.

“We’re pleased to have been able to bring the various partners together to create an opportunity for citizens of Southeastern New Brunswick to get involved and gain a greater awareness of how the economic crisis is impacting people right here in our community – our neighbors,” said McInnis.

... is about my recent trip to the chiropractor and how I avoided going for so many years! Read all about it on the editorial page of today's Moncton Times & Transcript. It will also be posted online here tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

I attended the open house celebrating CBC Radio Moncton's 40th anniversary today and was so happy to have met several of the former hosts and newsreaders I'd heard over the years, including Lori Joudrey, Marty Kingston, Brent Taylor and - last but not least - Walt Forsey, who has made several video contributions to this blog.

Congratulations to all my friends over at CBC Radio Moncton on your 40th anniversary! May you have (at least) another 40 more!

The station first went on air on December 8, 1968. Other events on December 8, 1968:

John Lennon was assassinated 28 years ago yesterday on December 8, 1980. It seems only fitting that today's Christmas video is a tribute to his memory... and one of the most beautiful Christmas songs of modern times.

Monday, December 08, 2008

I laughed out loud when I saw Andy Samberg's latest SNL Digital Short. This guy is brilliant. Like his collaboration with Justin Timberlake on D*ck in a Box, this one has an adult theme. Be warned... but it's too funny not to watch.

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About Me

Writer, columnist and communications consultant. Author of "Hump Day" - a weekly humour/general interest column, and Social Media Matters, a column dealing with social media. Member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC), National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Canadian Association of Journalists.